Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder To Dominant Victory Over Cavaliers

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, tries to steal the ball from Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025,

The Oklahoma City Thunder showcased an impressive performance as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114 in a highly anticipated matchup between the two teams with the best records in the NBA. The Thunder, leading the Western Conference, and the Cavaliers, leading the Eastern Conference, now share identical 34-6 records.

In a rematch of their earlier meeting where the Cavaliers emerged victorious, the Thunder turned the tables and handed the Cavaliers their most significant loss of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for Oklahoma City with a remarkable 40-point, eight-assist performance in just three quarters of play.

Gilgeous-Alexander shines with 40 points and 8 assists.

Thunder defeats Cavaliers 134-114 in clash of top NBA teams.

Thunder and Cavaliers now share identical 34-6 records.

Lu Dort and Jalen Williams contribute to Thunder's win.

Supporting Gilgeous-Alexander's stellar performance, Lu Dort contributed a season-high 22 points, while Jalen Williams added 19 points to secure the Thunder's fourth consecutive win. On the other side, Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 20 points and nine assists, with Jarrett Allen chipping in 13 points. However, Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland's top scorer, struggled, managing only eight points on 3-for-15 shooting.

The Thunder took control early in the game, closing the first quarter with a dominant 22-2 run to establish a commanding 32-14 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander continued his scoring spree in the second quarter, adding 11 points in a crucial stretch that propelled Oklahoma City to a 75-49 halftime advantage.

Oklahoma City's offensive onslaught continued in the third quarter, where they matched a season-high with 44 points, extending their lead to 119-81. The Thunder's efficient shooting, converting at a remarkable 60.3% rate through the first three quarters, proved too much for the Cavaliers to handle.

Despite missing key player Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder displayed resilience and depth, outperforming the Cavaliers in various aspects of the game. Oklahoma City's ability to limit turnovers, committing just six compared to Cleveland's 21, played a significant role in their dominant victory.

The turning point of the game came as the Thunder embarked on a decisive 30-2 run from the first quarter into the early stages of the second, creating a gap that the Cavaliers could not overcome.

Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, while the Cavaliers are set to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

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